PVC Life-cycle Analysis Graphics

Visual Communication: The Environmental Impact of PVC Vinyl

This infographic was part of a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) project I undertook about PVC vinyl . I compared the environmental impact of a PVC vinyl banner to that of a comparable banner made of organic cotton canvas.

This LCA looked at all aspects of environmental impact, from the mining of the metal for the grommets to the petroleum in the inks used for printing. I also calculated the transportation miles for all the elements of the final product.

During the course of the project, I learned how destructive PVC materials are to the ecosphere. PVC is the number 1 producer of dioxins in the environment. It is toxic to make and toxic to dispose of. Once manufactured, there are few options to recycle PVC, and it continues to break down, off-gas and produce environmental toxins throughout its time on Earth.